Live updates

An inquest has opened into the deaths of a couple killed when a light aircraft crashed at Hawarden Airport last Friday.

At a brief hearing in Ruthin, North East Wales coroner John Gittins formally opened the inquests into the deaths of Gary Anthony Vickers, 58, and Kaye Clarke, 43, both of Dingle Bank, Chester.

The provisional cause of death in Mr Vickers’s case was head and chest injuries, while Miss Clarke, who was a passenger in the plane, died later at the Countess of Chester Hospital of shock and haemorrhage.

Adjourning the inquests to a date to be fixed, the coroner said that investigations into the tragedy were expected to be extensive.

The father of Gary Vickers who was killed in a plane crash on Friday in Broughton has paid tribute to him.

Gordon Vickers said: "The accident with my Son Gary has been a great loss. We extend our condolences to Kaye's family.

"We would like to thank everybody who has sent their condolences.

"Gary was flying from Paris to Hawarden with his partner Kay Clarke when the accident happened.

"He was without doubt a very accomplished Pilot. Very meticulous in his approach to Flying. We both started flying about 15 years ago."

Mr Vickers said flying was his son's passion, adding: "Sadly there is always a risk. It is very sad that two lives have ended this way. We would like to thank the emergency services at Hawarden for their prompt attendance."

Advertisement

A woman who died following a plane crash at Hawarden Airport on Friday has been named as Kaye Clarke. The pilot of the plane, Gary Vickers was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Advertisement

Flintshire Councillor Derek Butler has paid his condolences after two people died in a plane crash in Broughton.

All I can say is that it's a very unusual occurrence. There was another crash up the hill about 10 years ago, but that only caused injury. I can't remember another and I've been here 45 years. It's very sad.